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~'° 41 I• survey, we have chosen a number that is proportionate to the number of acres that this zone occupies in the project area. Thus, we estimate that approximately 160 prehistoric sites will be found in the project area. About two-thirds of these sites will occur in the Pinyon-Juniper and Oak Brush zone, which occurs on both sides of the Purgatoire River; slightly fewer than one- third of the sites will be found in the Loamy Foothills zone, in the Picketwire Valley and Wet Canyon; and, a small number of sites will be found in the few areas of Ponderosa Pine, which are found in the extreme northwestern corner of the project area. Estimated Prehistoric Site Density In 1983, Nickens and Associates conducted an intensive inventory ~ of about 920 acres near Segundo, Colorado, about 8 km (5 mi) east ! of the project area (Tucker 1983). This survey found and recorded 14 prehistoric sites, which equates to a density of 1 site for every 66 acres. This result is not substantially i greater than the density of 1 site for every 48 acres encountered ~ by Lutz and Hunt (1979) for their entire survey area (see Table 5). Tucker (1983) recorded seven interval variables (elevation, distance to nearest permanent water source, distance to nearest temporary water source, slope, aspect, site size, and number of artifact classes) for each site and used univariate and • multivariate statistical methods to deduce which variable or ~ combination of variables exerted the most influence upon prehistoric settlement decisions. From these manipulations of the data, estimates of low, medium and high site density for that project area were made [Tucker 1983:6.01(20)]. These results can be extrapolated to the Golden Eagle Mine permit revision area (Figure 4). Areas of low site density will be %+ found on steep slopes (greater than 30 degrees) and within the floodplains of perennial and intermittent drainages. Areas of moderate site density will occur on relatively level, high mesa tops at some distance (up to 3 km) from drainages on west-facing -' slopes. Finally, high site density areas will be found on east- FF_ facing, flat to moderate slopes (0-30 degrees), between the lower I' margins of the steep slopes of the high mesas and points ~ approximately 100 m away from a drainage. These areas of low, medium, and high site densities have been depicted on a composite map of the permit revision area. This map is included as an Appendix to this report. "' CONCLDBIONB This study has undertaken to describe the natural and cultural contexts of Wyoming Fuel Company's Golden Eagle Mine permit revision area, and to use this information to estimate the kinds I, and numbers of prehistoric and historic resources that could be